GARFIELD PARK — The TRiiBE, an acclaimed digital media outlet dedicated to reshaping the narrative surrounding Black Chicago, has recently established its new headquarters in East Garfield Park.
This move marks a significant step for the outlet, which is set to open a production studio this summer, designed specifically for filmmaking and creative storytelling that highlights the lives of Black Chicagoans, especially those from the West Side.
In an announcement about the studio, TRiiBE founder Morgan Elise Johnson expressed excitement for this development.
“Now that we have found our editorial voice, and our newsroom has a strong foundation to build on, we are ready for the next phase,” Johnson stated.
The production studio aims to serve as a hub for in-studio photography, community events with local creatives, workshops with filmmakers, and educational fellowships.
Additionally, it will allow the TRiiBE to amplify its video projects and collaborations with artistic talents in the community.
Johnson, transitioning from filmmaker to publisher, revealed that the introduction of a production studio was always a component of the TRiiBE’s vision from its inception.
The TRiiBE was founded in 2017 by Johnson, Editor-In-Chief Tiffany Walden, and founding partner David Elutilo, along with the launch of a documentary series titled “Another Life.”
This series, directed by Johnson and produced by Walden, delves into the personal experiences of individuals grappling with the grief of losing loved ones to gun violence.
However, the demands of local news and the need to manage business operations shifted the focus away from filmmaking.
Johnson noted, “With me growing into being the publisher and needing to run the business side, it became more and more difficult for me to also be a creator.”
The introduction of the TRiiBE’s production studio represents a noteworthy milestone in its editorial journey and commitment to community support.
As Johnson emphasizes the importance of collaboration, the new creative project will operate as a separate entity from its newsroom, focusing primarily on working alongside local filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives.
The decision to relocate the TRiiBE to the West Side was deliberate, intended to shine a light on an area often overlooked in major conversations about Chicago.
This is the TRiiBE’s first dedicated workspace, having previously shared office space in the West Loop.
Walden, a North Lawndale native, shared her personal connection to the West Side, emphasizing the significance of establishing a presence in an area historically lacking resources.
“It’s a dream. It’s something I never imagined for myself as a kid growing up on the West Side,” Walden remarked.
Her family’s deep-rooted history in the West Side, with her grandmother migrating from Mississippi, has fueled her commitment to telling local stories.
The TRiiBE previously explored this cultural connection in their 2018 series, “Out West,” which documented Walden’s reconnection with her Southern roots.
As the newsroom looks to further delve into the West Side’s narrative, plans are underway for a new installment of the series.
Given the TRiiBE’s community-focused approach, Johnson emphasized the importance of being actively engaged in local neighborhoods.
“The West Side being our home base means that we’re going to be outside in the community.
I want to personally get to know people and be outside in the community, that’s what we were doing when we started the TRiiBE.
It started with Tiffany and I going outside in West Side neighborhoods,” Johnson shared.
The new studio is currently in its early-development phase, working on a short documentary project, with an opening event scheduled for July specifically for subscribers of the TRiiBE’s Reshape newsletter.
A spirit of collaboration is at the heart of the production studio’s vision, with aspirations to work alongside established organizations like Kartemquin Films and Sisters in Cinema for future projects.
For further information, interested parties can visit the TRiiBE’s website at thetriibe.com.
image source from：https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/04/the-triibe-opens-west-side-newsroom-production-studio-to-tell-more-stories-about-black-chicago/
